[Roles and expressions of the NMDA receptor subunits (NR2A and NR2B) in visual cortex area of kittens with the normal visual development and anisometropic amblyopia].

In order to understand the roles of the other subunits, we investigated expression of the NMDA receptor subunits (NR2A and NR2B) in visual cortex of normal and anisometropic amblyopia kittens with different ages in the present study. We examined the expressions of NR2A and NR2B in the visual cortex of the kittens by immunohistochemistry with polyclonal anti-NR2A antibody and anti-NR2B antibody, respectively. Using immunohisto-chemical Streptavidin Perosidase (SP) method, we observed the dynamic changes of NR2A and NR2B with microscope and computer-assisted image analyses. We found that NR2A and NR2B remained low expression after the peak of the critical period of kitten visual development; compared with normal group of the same age, NR2A expresses low. However, the difference is not significant for NR2B before maturation period of visual development. NR2B rises after the maturation period of visual development. According to this, the component of NR2A and NR2B can be affected by anisometropia. This research suggests that the difference of NR2A and NR2B expressions may affect the formation of amblyopia.